(9.00 AM): I got a phone call from Nowshad who is a really good friend of mine. Who told me that BDR and Army are fighting with each other; I thought Nowshad was screwing around, so I was on ma way to class and I though this is just a rumor so I didn’t pay any attention
(9.00 AM): Pilkhana Riffles Headquarter Darbar Hall.
Darbar hall is a meeting where ordinary soldiers talk about their problems and requests to the higher ranked officers. This is one meeting where No one is allowed to carry any kind of arms, or close range weapons. And officers don’t ever carry any kind of weapons with them, except only the battlefields or practice sessions.
Major General Shakil Ahmed (Director General, BDR) wasn’t quite aware about what is coming next. When the Darbar started, he was quite pissed to see that some of the soldiers managed to smuggle some weapons into the Darbar. Some of the Soldiers started to scream and cuss at the senior officers. After a few disastrous minutes some of the Soldiers started brush firing with the automatics they were carrying. Few of the Soldiers tried to save the officers; they “protested” against this mutiny, they fell into their deaths, too. At least 60+ officers died, Shakil was shot at point blank. It is also heard that they burned Shakil’s family alive; the news is heard from a BDR soldier who had a cell phone with him.
(Around 1.00 pm): Wives of the BDR officers were scared to death after they heard about the massacre at Dorbar Hall. They started breaking into quarters and looting around 12.30 pm. They dragged many women and girls with them.
Mrs. Shakil(wife of DG General Shakil) was burned alive but after 2.00 pm and from then almost everybody came to know what is happening. The rebels also attacked the residences of the officers. They also set fire to the house of the DG and looted valuables. Additionally, at least six civilians, including a boy, have been confirmed dead in the crossfire.
(Around 2.00 pm): RAB found 2 dead bodies at Nobabgang dam gate sewerage. Both of them were identified as Colonel Enayet and Colonel Mujib.
(Around 3.00 pm): When I came back home then I get to know everything about the BDR mutiny and then time fly’s but every moment was a horrible.
(Around 5.00 pm): I got a call and I so scared after seeing the number it was Nadit one of my close buddies. He is just a brother to me. His father was the sector commander of Dhaka BDR Colonel Mujibur Rahman. He called and he was whispering and saying brother help me out, I am hiding under my bed and my cooked help me out and they killed my maid and my pet in front of me and he was saying his dad is into the hospital and he doesn’t know anything about his mother and sister. Then I was kind of paranoid and I told him to silent his phone and suggest him to save his mobile battery so that people can contact from outside and know about his situation and the most saddest part was before that day he was with us then I dropped him at his place and he offered us to stay his place but when I got the call then it was hard for me to believe because it was like a movie and for one second I even thought is it a dream or something. That morning I called him up but his cell was switch off but after that called I tried so many times but his phone was off. Then I contacted with ARMY and RAB as well just to let them know about Nadit situation. But their replied was positive and they said Nadit is not only they care but all the hostages inside they are their concern but thanks to the god that Nadit is still alive but unfortunately his father is not exist anymore.
26th February, 2009
The home minister convinced the BDR soldiers to give up their arms by assuring them that the Army would not go into the BDR headquarters. As a result, the rebels began to surrender their arms and release the hostages. However, as this was happening in Dhaka, revolts by other members of the BDR started in at least 12 other towns and cities. Fighting and takeovers by the BDR was reported in: Chittagong, at Feni, on the eastern border with India, in Rajshahi in the north-west, and Sylhet in the north.
Army military convoy gathering behind the tanks near Abahani ground on 26 February 2009.
As of 26 February, BDR outposts at more than 46 locations have been reported to have shown signs of great agitation. BDR jawans have claimed to have taken command of Jessor BDR garrison as well as major BDR establishments in Satkhira, Dinajpur, Naogaon and Netrokona.
Mass media news tickers are confirming that the mutineers have overrun Khagrachari, Ramgar, Sylhet 22 sect and Jessor BDR regional HQs.
As per media tickers, the BDR members have again started surrendering their arms after the PM addressed the nation and reassured the BDR personnel that no action will be taken against them. But she also warned the mutineers of “harsh actions” if they don’t immediately lay down their arms and cease all hostilities. Following the speech of Sheikh Hasina, the army deployed tanks in front of the BDR headquarters. After that, the mutineers surrendered their arms as described by the media spokesman of the Prime Minister. Following the surrender, Armed Police Battalion took over the BDR headquarters.
The demands from the BDR soldiers
Bangladesh Rifles soldiers had put a 22-point demand including the withdrawal of seconded regular army officers from the BDR. Instead, they wanted the original BDR members to be promoted from the ranks. While speaking to private television networks, BDR jawans alleged that senior officials of BDR were involved in conspiracy, directly accusing the Director General, the Deputy Director General of embezzling soldier wage bonuses from the Operation Dal-Bhaat Program and from extra duties in the General Elections held on 29 December 2008. Operation Dal-Bhaat was a welfare program run by the BDR to provide rice and other daily essentials to the poor. Other demands included 100 percent rationing, introduction of BDR soldiers in peacekeeping missions and the overall welfare of BDR members.
May be there were few offices who were corrupted but this is not the way to remove the corruption and there are hundreds or more politicians and businessman who are still doing corruption ever it is proved in many cases but they are free like a birds. But I would say this is just a successful master planned because all of the officers were highly talented, brilliant and many of them were jointed in BDR few days ago before the mutiny happened and it was also a successful plan for those people who are behind for all this. I went to Nadits father funeral actually there were some officer’s death body where I saw many saddest parts. I saw a boy age of ten who was asking his mother that why the hell his father hidden into the confine and his mother was trying to make him understand that his father is playing hide and seek and in that moment it was so tuff for me to hold my tears even though still I can memorize the exact picture and that boy will never remember his dad because he is so young to realize what is going. Nobody will realize about the feelings of losing a dad, husband or a brother unless that person wouldn’t face it. It is really hard for the government to find those people who are behind for all. But it’s our duty to show respect for all those officers who died just like a real hero. Prime Minister Sheik Hasina and her other members from her party solved this mutiny. Some says she was right some says wrong but then my answer would be at first, she took some wrong steps which are not accepted because for that so many officers died and which is not a normal death. I personally salute all those officers. But we lost a huge number of potential assets which will take our country 20 years back from now. But one thing there were almost 10000 soldiers almost everybody were escaped but it was police who surrounded the whole area but how did it happened that will be the only one question that I will always look for. There are always two sides of a story but the answer will be mysterious at some point.
